Mashu erupted around 5,550 BCE with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 6, a colossal eruption that threw tens of cubic kilometres of ash and rock into the air. Eruptions of this size inject sulphur into the stratosphere and can cool the global climate for a year or more. The VEI is a logarithmic scale: each step means roughly ten times more erupted material. It took place around 5,550 BCE.
Before and after
- c. 5,700 BCEEruption of Khangar
- c. 5,680 BCEEruption of Crater Lake
- from c. 5,600s BCE to 4,900s BCELinear Pottery culture
- c. 5,550 BCEEruption of Tao-Rusyr Caldera
- c. 5,550 BCEEruption of Mashu
- from 56th century BCE to 35th century BCEUbaid period
- from 56th century BCE to 20th century BCESumer
- from 55th century BCE to 27th century BCECucuteni–Trypillia culture
- from 55th century BCE to 45th century BCEVinča culture
More in Earth & climate
- about 12,400 years agoEruption of Moekeshiwan [Lvinaya Past]
- c. 8,050 BCEEruption of Aira
- c. 7,460 BCEEruption of Pinatubo
- c. 4,000 BCEEruption of Witori
- c. 3,580 BCEEruption of Taal
- c. 3,550 BCEEruption of Pinatubo
The era
This moment belongs to the Human prehistory (300,000 years ago to 3,200 BCE), the human story before writing.